Feedback & Reports

The chub responded immediately to our offerings - mainly halibut pellets - but the barbel took a bit longer. Best chub 4.5lbs, best barbel 9lb 13oz. As always - and thanks to Colin - there was good path along the bank and plenty of potential fishing places. The cuckoo greeted us as we arrived and was still calling as we left. Another lovely day on the Wye!

14 Barbel, 9 Chub

Fished fly all day with. Mainly on Maddox and Vanstone, but also Stones, Gabions and Island. Conditions good, but nothing touched or seen. The upper pools are difficult to access, even on a dry day. How about some fixed ropes or steps? And a strimmed path? The thistles are not good for breathable waders. Access to Maddox and Vanstone is fine.

Not much in the way of fly hatching so on went the goldhead PT, size 14 fished upstream. Fourteen mainly smaller fish were caught, with another five around the 8-10" and one beauty of 16"(two pounds?). Heavy morning rainstorms coloured the river a little in the afternoon, and the river entering from Talybont had a strong sewage smell. Overall an interesting beat with some very large fish spotted.

20 Trout

This was the second day of 3 days on this beat. We arrived to rain and thought we could have a good days fishing, but it was hard going on a low river.

3 Barbel, 2 Chub

Wading and long trotted flake for the chub on the upper section beat 2. Had 8 in the short time there with one fish nearing the 5lb mark. I decided to give up when some canoeists decided to watch me play a chub and in doing so passed over the area I was fishing. It would be good if a message could go out to the canoeing community asking them to pass by anglers and not linger under any circumstances.
Anyway this is three miles of beautiful water.

8 Chub

1 taken on dry fly. Felt like a cool steam room on the river. Another easily arranged day on the Usk.

4 Trout

No Salmon caught. One seen jumping persistently below Backers Crib. Mainly spinning water IMHO with little opportunity for the fly, although there is just enough flow to carry the fly around slowly, if you like that kind of thing.

All fish on Meat or Pellet.

5 Barbel, 5 Chub

Nice fishery but watch out for the cows. River was a bit low but I caught 7 Chub and had a close encounter with an Otter, which popped it's head up about 2 metres away then bolted when it saw me. Two of the Chub had teeth marks in them.

7 Chub

First time on this length and we were quite impressed. A beautiful setting opposite Weir Gardens where the most appealing pegs were located. The only drawback being the long and seemingly unnessary walk to the riverbank. It was certainly hard work in the sunny conditions. Surely someone is just being awkward making anglers walk all the way round. Fortunately the fishing was much better than on the previous 2 days and fish were picked up steadily for most of the day except for 2 or 3 hours in the afternoon. In all we had 12 barbel and 6 chub to 8lb+ on a variety of pellet baits.

12 Barbel, 6 Chub